Orchard heater



y 2, 1933' w. c. scHEu 7,

ORCHARD HEATER Filed Jan. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR willGide/2e16, M fl/ ATTORNEY5 'May 2, 1933. w Q EU 1,907,336

ORCHARD HEATER Filed Jan. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 50 I N V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS will 6 Jckew,

Patented May 2, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C. SCHEU, OFLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SGHEU PRODUCTS COMPANY, LTD., OFUPLAND, CALIFORNIA, A. CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA ORCHARD HEATER Thisinvention relates to orchard heaters adapted for the production of heatby combustion of oil or other combustible liquid, and an importantobject thereof is to provide an orchard heater having novel featuresof'construction, such as to provide for more perfect combustion and morecomplete utilization of the fuel thanhas heretofore been obtained.

A particular object of the invention is to cause generation of vaporsfrom the liquid fuel by heat produced by combustion of a small portionof such fuel with a regulated air supply, and cause the vapors sogenerated to be drawn upwardly into the stack and there burned in thepresence of additional air admitted separately to the stack, so that themain combustion reaction takes place substantially wholly betweenconstituents in the gaseous phase, as distinguished from the combustionof liquid oil at the surface thereof. This object is accomplishedprimarily by providing a generating chamber adapted to contain liquidfuel, a stack whose interior constitutes a main combustion chamber, apartition wall defining a vapor chamber separate from the generatingchamber and opening upwardly and freely into the stack, means foradmitting a regulated quantity of air to said generating chamber forcombustion of a portion of the fuel therein, to cause generation of fuelvapors by heating the body of fuel therein, and an opening from thegenerating chambers into said vapor chamber so as to permit the fuelvapors (and products of combustion) produced in the generating chamberto be carried upwardly through said vapor chamber. into the stack. dueto the draft therein, said opening being sufficiently remote from thepoint of generating combustion in the generating chamber to preventpropagation of flame through said opening into said vapor chamber innormal operation of the heater. The generated fuel vapors theef0re passupwardly in thestack, and suitable openings are furtherprovided foradmitting air at the proper position or positions in said stack, foreffecting substantially complete and perfect combustion of such vapors.The vapor chamber opening 2-2 in Fig. 1.

upwardly into the stack is preferably located centrally of the heaterand within a cylindrical or other dividing wall, while the generatingchamber is provided by the annular space between said dividing wall andthe outer wall of the base of the heater.

until the entire quantity of fuel is exhausted.

.A further object of the invention is to provideimproved means forregulating the ad- IIllSSlOIl of 'air to said generating chamber.

The complete construction of typical forms of apparatus embodying theprinciple of my invention and exemplifying the means employed forsecuring the above advantages, are

illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and referring thereto:

Fig. 1' is a side elevation of an orchard heater according to myinvention, with the outer wall of the base and the inner or dividingwall partly broken away to show the vapor chamber and'the opening fromthe generating chamber i to the vapor chamber.

Fig. 2 is a vertibal section thereof on line Fig. 3 is a horizontalsection on line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

i Fig. 4 is a partial vertical section on line 44 in Fig. 1, showing theconstruction of the lower part of the stack.

, Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the regulating means for controllingthe admission of air to the generating chamber. 7

Fig. 6 is a perspective view'of the regulating member or valve of suchregulating -means.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the stack and upper part of the base,showing possible modifications in the construction thereof.

F Fi 8 isa vertical section on line 8-8 in ig. 9 is a side elevation ofthe lower portion of another modified form of stack.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section on line 1010 in Fig. 9.

Figs. 11 and 12 are similar to Figs. 9 and 10, showing stillanotherpossible modification of the stack construction.

In the drawings I show certain preferred .embodiments of my invention,in which the parts of the heater are circular in horizontalcross-section, but it will be understood that the invention is notlimited in this respect, and the parts may, if desired, be made of oval,rectangular or other suitable horizontal cross-section. Furthermore,many modifications may be made in the shape and proportions of theseveral parts, as well as in the means of mounting and securing togethersaid arts. The heater shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inc usive may be consideredas comprising two principal parts, a base 1 and a stack 2. The bottom 3of the base is preferably inclined upwardly continuously from near theouter edge thereof to approximately the center or dished upward so as toprovide for complete drainage of fuel from the central portion thereoftoward the outer edges. The side wall 4 of the base may be substantiallycylindrical or maybe flared somewhat upwardly and outwardly as shown,and is preferably provided with a horizontal offset 5 near its upperedge for the purpose of stiffening the same at this point and causing itto maintain its proper shape. Bottomv 3 and side wall 4 constitute afuel receptacle. The base is further provided with a cover 6 having adepending annular flange 7 fitting over the upper portion 4' of the sidewall. Said cover has a central opening 8 and may be provided with aflange 9 extending upwardly from the edges of said opening.

The upper part of the stack comprises a frusto-conical wall portion 11tapering downwardly and outwardly from a restricted outlet opening 12 atits upper end, and terminating at its lower end in a substantiallyimperforate cylindrical wall portion 13. The lower part of the stackcomprises a substantially imperforatecylindrical rim or wall portion 14and an annular flange or apron 15 extending inwardly therefrom andpreferably, but not necessarily, inclined somewhat upwardly toward thecenter as shown in Fig. 2. Said annular flange 15 may, however, besubstantially horizontal as shown'in Fig. 4. Projecting downwardly fromthe inner edge of, the annular apron 15 is a cylindrical dividing wall17 which fits inside the flange 9 of the cover 6 and extends throughopening 8 and downwardly to the bottom 3, resting thereon but fittingloosely thereupon so as to provide suflicient clearance, as indicated at18, between the bottom edge of wall 17 and the bottom wall 3 for drainae of fuel therethrough. The cylindrical ividing wall or partition 17 isshown as being formed integrally with, or secured to, the lower ortionof the stack (annular flange 15), so t at the engagement of said wallwith the bottom 3 and with the edges of opening 8 and flange 9 serves tosupport the stack. It will be understood, however, that said wall 17may, if desired, be separate from the stack, and the latter may beseparately secured to or supported upon, the cover 6 in anysuitable-manner.

The annular space 19 between the outer wall 4 and the inner dividingwall constitutes the generating chamber, while the space 20 inside thedividing wall constitutes what may be termed a vapor chamber, openingupwardly and freely into combustion chamber 32 provided by the interiorof the stack.

The air for the vapor-generating combustion is introduced through an airadmitting and regulating device 21 mounted above an opening 22 in thecover 6. Said regulating device may comprise a tubular member 23hingedly mounted on cover 6 at one side of opening 22, as shown at 24',and provided with a plurality of regulating openings 25 in its sidewall, and a cap 26 fitting rotatably on said tubular member and havingan opening 27 in its side wall adapted to cover or uncover the openings25 upon rotation of said cap, whereby the openings 27 and 25 cooperateto regulate the admission of air through opening 22.

Aperture means are provided in dividing wall 17, establishingcommunication between the generating chamber19 and the vapor chamber 20,and said aperture means is sufliciently removed from the air admittingdevice 21, and hence from the zone of vaporgenerating combustion so asto prevent propagation or continuation of the generating flame throu hsaid opening means into the vapor cham er during normal operation of theheater. For this purpose, a single opening 30 is shown in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive, located substantially diametrically opposite the airadmitting means 21, but it will be understood that my invention is notrestricted to this particular relative position of said opening, theessential feature being in any case that it is sufficiently remote fromthe air admitting means so that the distance travelled by the gases andvapors in the generating chamber, before reaching said 0 ening, issuflicient to permit completion 0 the vapor-generating combustion beforereaching said opening, thus substantially preventing burning at thesurface of the liquid fuel in the vapor chamber. Instead of a singleopening, I may provide two or more openings 30, as shown in Fig. 7, bothof these openings being located at a portion of the dividing wall 17remote from the air admitting device 21.

The means for admitting the main air supply to combustion chamber 32 mayadvantageouslycomprise a plurality of openings 33 distributed uniformlyin the annular flange or apron '15. Additional air supply d so as toprovide openings therebetween as indicated at 35. The upper part of thestack may be uniformly spaced from rim 14 by means of spacing blocks 36whichmay be secured torim 14 by suitable means such as bolts or rivets37, the upper part of the stack being secured to said spacing blocks bysuitable means, such as bolts or rivets 38. An desired number of spacingblocks 36 may be provided and the spaces therebetween constitute theopenings 35 for admission of air. Said openings are uniformlydistributed about the stack and are of uniform size, so as to admit airto the inside of the stack equally from all sides.

In starting the operation of the above described heater, fuel oil orother suitable liquid fuel is placed in the liquid receptacle providedby bottom 3 and side wall 4 of the base 1, said fuel receptacleincluding the.

lower portions of both the generating chamber 19 and the vapor chamber20. Saidreceptacle may be filled with fuel to any desired level such asindicated at S in Fig. 2,

such level being sufficiently below the cover 6 to provide the necessaryspace above the fuel for passage of air products of combus- 2 tion, andgenerated vapors. Considerable variation is permissible in the method ofinitiating the combustion in the heater. One

method which may be used for this purpose consists in opening the airadmitting device 21 by means of hinge 24 and pouring a small amount ofgasoline therethrough onto the surface of the fuel and igniting thesame, and also pouring some gasoline or similar material through theupper end of the stack onto the interior walls thereof and igniting thesame at this po nt also. The air admitting device-21 is then loweredabout its hinge, but the cap 26 is turned to such position as to bringthe opening 27 therein in positon to expose a considerable part of theopenings 25, so as'to admit a relatively large supply of air for properstarting of the combustion.

The combustion being thus started in generating chamber 19 directlybeneath the air admitting means 21, the liqu d fuel becomes ignited atthis point and a portion thereof will burn in vthe presence of the air.admitted through openings 27 and 25. Such combustion will heat the bodyof fuel, or the por- -cause the desired rate of therefrom. It is tionthereof alilacent the point'of such combustion, to s cient temperatureto cause generation of vapors therefrom, which will pass around thesides of wall 17 and through openin 30 into vapor chamber 20 and henceupwar ly into the combustion chamber 32. In case the above describedprocedure is followed, these vapors will be ignited, in the presence ofair admitted through openings 33 and 35, by the burning gasoline in thestack, but it will be understood that any other suitable means may beemployed'for igniting these vapors and startin the main combustionoperation in the com ustion chamber.

The operation of the heater will thereafter proceed in normal manner itbeing understood that the regulating device 21 may be ad usted after theoperation is well under way so as to reduce the exposed area of 0 enyings 25' and limit the amount of air admitted therethrough, so that justenough air is admitted at t is point to maintain a generating flame atthe surface of the fuel in the gencrating chamber of sufiicientintensity to generation of vapors evident that the dividing wall 17 willserve to completely confine the generating flame to the generatingchamber, I

as the'distance-from the zone of generating combustion which willnaturall be at the side of the generating chamber eneath the airadmitting device 21, to the opening 30, is suflicient to preventpropagation or continuation of the generating flame to and through saidopening. In the normal operation of the heater, therefore, there will be.substantially no combustion at the surface of the liquid fuel insidethe vapor chamber The heating of the liquid fuel for genera-- tion ofvapors therefrom is of course not confined to the region of thegenerating flame.

The hot combustion gases and hot vapors formed at this point will alsofurnish heat to the surface of the fuel in passing around through theannular generating chamber 19, and cause liberation of further vapors.The body of liquid fuel will also be heated by heat radiated theretofrom the main flame in the stack, and heat conducted by the walls of theheater, and all of the heat so received will assist in generation offuel vapors.

The vapors thus'generated are, as above described, drawn upwardlythrough chamber 20, due to the draft in the stack, and are burned with asmooth "steady flame in the combustion chamber in the presence of airadmitted uniformly from all sides through openings 33 and 35. Theconditions are,

An important function of the air admitted to the generating chamberthrough means 21, in addition to maintaining the necessary combustiontherein, is to furnish a stream of hot gaseous products of combustionwhich are drawn through said generating chamber due to the draft in thestack and continually sweep the generated vapors therefrom into thevapor chamber and hence to the stack for combustion.

Mounting of the cylindrical partition-wall 17 on the stack as abovedescribed has the advantageous result that it can be withdrawn bodilwith the stack from the fuel receptacle, there y facilitating inspectionof and access to the fuel receptacle, for example, in cleaning the same.Moreover the partition wall is in heat conducting contact with thestack, and transmits heat from the main flame in the stackto the vaporin the space enclosed by said partition, as well as to the generatingchamber, thereby assisting in the generation of vapor and in preventingcondensation of vapor in the vapor chamber.

Since the portion of the bottom of the fuel receptacle which issurrounded by the cylindrical partition 17 is higher than the bottom ofthe generating chamber, the body of fuel at such central portion maybecome reduced to a thin layer while there is still considerable depthof fuel in the generating chamber. Under these circumstances there wouldbe a tendency of the fuel to carbonize and cake on such elevated portionof the receptacle bottom, but this tendency is minimized by theprotection afforded by the partition wall 17, which to a considerabledegree, shields the floor of the vapor chamber from the direct radiationof heat from the generating chamber.

It will be noted that all of the air admitting means are so designed asto minimize the harmful effects of adverse weather conditions, such asrain, snow or wind. It is a particularly advantageous feature of theabove construction that the openings in the regulating device 21 areprovided in the side wall thereof instead of in the top as hasheretofore been customary, so that entrance of rain or snow therethroughis substantially prevented. The openings 33, being located in theannular flange or apron 15, are also effectively protected by theoverhanging outer edge thereof from entrance of rain or snow and arealso shielded against direct exposure to wind. The upward and inwardinclination of said apron is of particular advantage for this reason.Furthermore, the wall portion 13 of the upper part of the stackoverhangs and extends sufficiently below the upper edge of rim 14 so asto protect the openings 35 against similar adverse weather conditions,

It will be understood that various modifications in the construction ofthe stack may be made. utilizing the. same principles of design forproviding protected openings for admission of the main air supply. Forexample as shown in Figs. 7 and- 8, the upper part of the stack may asbefore overhang and be spaced from an annular. wall ortion 14' similarto the rim 14 above descri d, similar spacing means 36 being provided,leaving openings 35 therebetween. In this case, however, the annularwall portion 14' is shown as overhanging and being spaced from the up eredge of an upward extension 17' of the dividing wall 17 Spacing blocks36 are provided between the wall portions 14' and 17, said spacingblocks being secured to wall portion 17' as by means of bolts or rivets37 and wall portion 14 being secured thereto as by means 'of bolts orrivets 38. Openings 35 are thus rovided between the wall portions 14 an17 so that the main air supply is in this case admitted through theopenings 35 and 35'. Both of these air admitting openings are,

in this case also, protected by the overhanging wall portions fromexposure to adverse weather conditions.

Another possible modification in the construction of the stack isillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10. The stack comprises in this case an upperwall portion 42, an intermediate wall portion 43, and a lower wallportion 44.

All of said wall portions are frusto-conical in shape, and the loweredge of wall portion 42 overhangs the upper edge of wall portion 43 andis spaced therefrom substantially uniformly throughout its periphery asby means of spacing blocks 45 secured, for example, in the manner abovedescribed, so as to provide openings 46 therebetween. In a similarmanner the wall portion 43 overhangs the upper edge of wall portion 44and is uniformly spaced therefrom about its periphery by means ofspacing blocks 47 providing air admitting openings 48. Each of theoverhanging wall portions thus serves to protect the openings within thelower edge thereof from adverse weather conditions. Further airadmitting openings may, if desired, be provided as shown at 33', in aninwardly extending annular apron 15 whose inner edge may be connected tothe upper end of the dividing wall 17, in the same manner as in Fig. 1.The annular apron 15' may be inclined upwardly toward the center asabove described, or may, if desired, be substantially horizontal asshown. in 10.

Still another possible mo lfication of the stack construction accordingto my invention is shown in Figs. 11 and 12. In this case thecylindrical portion 50 of the upper part of the stack extends inside andspaced from the cylindrical wall 51 of the lower part of the stack, theedges of the two wall portions overlapping one another so as to preventdirect entrance of wind therebetween and also prevent access of drivinrain into the central part of the stack. he two parts of the stack areas before secured together and held in spaced relation by spacing blocks52 between which are the openings 53 for admission of air.

I claim:

1. An orchard heater comprising means de fining a generating chamber adated to contain liquid fuel, .a stack mounte above and communicating withsaid chamber and the interior of which constitutes a main combustionchamber, a cylindrical partition wall extending downwardly from thestack and inclosing a vapor chamber and separating the same from theremainder of the generating chamber, said vapor chamber opening upwardlyand freely into the stack, means for admitting air to said generatingchamber outside and at one side of said partition wall, said partitionwall being provided with aperture means leading from the generatingchamber into said vapor chamber, said aperture means in the partitionwall being wholly at the opposite side of the partition wall from thepoint of admission of air to the generating chamber, and the portion ofthe partition wall closest to said oint of admission of air beingsubstantial y imperforate, and means for admitting additional air to theinterior of said stac 2. An orchard heater comprising a covered recetacle ada ted to contain liquid fuel, a stac mounte above andcommunicating with said fuel receptacle, a cylindrical dividing wallmounted on said stack and extendin downwardly from the bottom of thestac and dividing the interior of said fuel receptacle into an annularenerating chamber outside said dividing wa l and a substantially centralvapor chamber within said dividing wall, said vapor chamber openingupwardly and freel into said stack, means for admitting a regu atedquantity of air to said generating chamber at one side of the central vaor chamber, said dividing wall being provi ed with an openingestablishing communication between said generating chamber and saidvapor chamber at only the opposite side of said va or chamber from thepoint of admission 0 air to said generating chamber the remainder ofsaid dividing wall being imperforate, and means for admitting addi-'tional air to said stack.

3. An orchard heater comprisin a covered receptacle for liquid fuel, asu tantiall vertical cylindrical partition wall dispose centrally ofsaid receptacle and dividing the interior thereof into a central vaporchamber and an annular generating chamber, means for admitting aregulated quantity of air to one side of said generating chamber, saidcylindrical partition wall being provided with an opening establishing1communication between said generating amber and said vapor chamber atonly the opposite side of said I vapor chamber from said air admittingmeans, the remainder of said cylindrical partition wall beingimperforat, and a stack communicating at its lower end with said vaporchamber, said partition wall being in heat conducting contact with saidstack.

4. An orchard heater comprising a fuel receptacle, a dividing walldefining a va or chamber in the central portion of said uel receptacleand an annular generating chamber outside said vapor chamber, means foradmitting air to said generating chamber, opening means in said dividingwall establishing communication between said chambers, a stack havingits lower end in communication with said vapor chamber, said receptaclehaving a dished bottom continuously inclined upwardly from near theouter edge to approximately the center thereof so as to facilitatedrainage of liquid fuel from the central vapor chamber into said annulargenerating chamber, and said dividing wall extending around theraised-central portion of said dished bottom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub

